Leeds boss David O'Leary has kept his trademark humility after watching his young team hang on to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, saying "the adventure continues". Although beaten 2-0 away to Deportivo La Coruna, their 3-0 victory at Elland Road thirteen days earlier was just enough to see the English side through to an improbable yet hard-fought victory.
"We looked tired but we're in the last four of the Champions League," said O'Leary. "It's an unbelievable achievement and it's all down to the players. I'm so delighted for them. Let's not kid ourselves, nobody expected us to get to the semi-finals. We play Valencia now and who knows over two games. I'm delighted we're through - we deserve it - but we didn't play well tonight.
"People said I talked it (Leeds' 3-0 first leg win) down but we needed three goals at home to come here and get through. We've got through against a very good side but we didn't really play tonight. We've got big hearts but lots of my players didn't play tonight.
"It doesn't help giving a goal away so early," admitted O'Leary. "That gave them an incentive. But, as I've said all along, they are a team that can score goals, a team that can hurt you." He admitted that they have "two tough games" against semi-final opponents, Valencia, calling them "a quality side". "We've come a long way and played lots of big teams. Valencia are another big team," he added.
Republic of Ireland defender Ian Harte spoke of his mixed feelings after the game, saying: "While I wouldn't go as far as to say we were ashamed of our display, it was very disappointing, especially when you take into account how well we've been playing in recent weeks." Deportivo striker Roy Makaay believes that his side were very unlucky. He said: "Leeds couldn’t stop us in any way in the first half. We played at a high pace and didn't let them play the way they wanted. Whenever we lost the ball we got it back very quickly."
Filed by Greg McKevitt
